Mica-building apparatus.



L. T. FREDERTCK.

MlCA BUILDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILEID JUNE 30. 1915.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

INVENTOR Lou/ls T Frederic/r ATTORNEY .'LO 'lJ'IS.'.I'.. FREDERICK, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MICA-IBUIIIDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. v Patented App 15, 1919,

Application filed June so, 1915. Serial No. 87,396.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LoUrsT. Fnnonmon, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mica-Building A paratus, of which the followingis a speci cation.

My invention relates to the manufacture of composite sheets, for electrical insulating purposes and the like, composed of mica or other flake material united into a solid mass by means of a binder.

The object of m invention is to provide automatic means or distributin pulverulent binding material in mica-bui ding towers and similar structures, whereby a greater degree of uniformity may be obtalned in the distribution of the bonding material than has been possible in the devices heretofore employed. 7

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a vertical sectional view of a mica-building tower equipped with two de vices constructed in accordance with my invention. I

The mica building tower shown in the drawing is of the general type shown and described in the patent to Sanborn, 1,074,576, granted September 30, 1913, and assigned to the Westmghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company. It consists of a vertically elongated tower 1 provided with a receiving hopper 2, a distributing hopper 8, with which is associated an ejector nozzle 4, and a deflector 5 suspended from the bottom of the hopper 2 by means of strap 6. Comminuted mica flakes Or other suitable materials are intermittently. deposited in predetermined quantities in the receiving hopper 2 by any convenient means (not shown) and from the receiving hopper 2 the flakes fall into the hopper 3 and areforced upwardly and outwardly therefrom into the tower when compressed air is discharged from the ejector 4:, the deflector 5 serving to prevent flakes from returnin into the hopper 2. The arrangement 0 parts is such that the flake material is projected in all lateral directions into the upper part of the tower and falls freely upon plates or other receiving means disposed at the bottom of the tower.

The structure thus far described is similar to the structure shown in the Sanborn patent mentioned above'and forms no part of my ing powdered bond across the tower below the ejector nozzle between the operations of the nozzle, the rolling motionof the sieve being relied upon to deliver uniform amounts of bond. It is found, in practice, that the desired result is only approximately attained and that the variations in the supply of bond distributed on the mica flakes by the sifting method are often sufficiently great to impair the properties of the finished product. 7

According to my present invention, I providemeans for projecting into the upper end of the mica building tower a cloud of finely powdered bonding material, such as shellac, the bonding material being preferably blown into the tower by means of compressed air. I prefer also that the bond be projected into the tower from more than one point, although a sin le bondrojectin device may be used with%n the sc pe of my invention.

The structure shown in the drawing 'embodies two identical bond-distributing devices, each of which consists of a supply hopper 7 adapted to receive a supply of finely powdered shellac'or other suitable bonding material and provided with an agi tator 8 to insure proper .delivery of the powdered material from the hopper. The supply hopper maybe secured to the outer wall of the tower 1, by means of brackets 9 or otherwise, adjacent to a U-shaped bondrecei'ving and discharging hopper 10. In

order that the free fal of mica flakes and bonding material may be obstructed as little with the interior of the tower, as shown.

Immediately adjacent to the receiving arm of the hopper 10 is a horizontal plate 11 supported upon a bracket 12. A reciprocating conveyer member 13 is adapted to rest slidably upon the plate 11, and the arrangement of the arts is such that the member 13 is also in s idable contact with the lower portion of the supply hopper 7 where a discharge opening 1s provided through which the bonding material is delivered to a bushing or receptaclel l carried by the reciprocating member 13. This bushing should be made removable in order that a series of receptacles of different capacities may be pro- 'vided, and selected for use, in accordance ment of the conveyer member 13 so that bonding material is deposited in the hopper 10 and blown therefrom into the tower. As shown, such operating means may comprise a shaft 17 driven from any convenient source of power and carrying a crank 18 to which is detachably secured, as by means of a bolt and a thumb-nut 18, a connecting rod 19 that is pivoted to the member 13. The shaft -17 also carries a pulley 20 that cooperates with a belt 21 through which the shaft 17 associated with the'other bond distributing device is simultaneously actuated. Each of the pulleys 20 also carries a valve-actuating tappet 22 which is adapted'to engage a.

valve-operating member 23 once during each rotation of the ulley. Such engagement between the mem ers 22 and 23 opens the valve 16 and permits air under pressure to be discharged through the nozzle 15.

The stirring device 8 associated with the supply hopper 7 is reciprocated by means of a pin-and-slot connection with a disk 25,

which is rotated by means of a belt 26 pass-.

ing around a pulley secured to the shaft 17. In the operation of my device, both of the members 13 are ordinarily reciprocated in such manner as to deposit bond simultaneously in their respective, hoppers 10. In the drawing, however, the reciprocating conveyer at the left of the figure is shown depositing-a supply of bond in its hopper 10 while' the conveyer at the right of the figure is shown receiving a supply of bond from its-supply hopper ile I. have shown a tower provided with two of my bond distributing devices, it is obvious that only one of such devices may be employed or that more than two may be provided. If only a single device is employed, it should be so arranged that the discharge opening of the hopper 10 is approximately in the center 'of the tower and the reciprocating bond conveyer will accord- ..mgly move through a longer distance.

Numerous other structural modifications may readily be made wlthout departing from hopper. j I '5. A bond-distrlbuting devlce for micathe spirit of my invention, and it is therefore to be understood that my invention is limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

- I claim as my invention:

' 1. A tower for making built-up composite masses of subdivided solid material and a binder, comprising pneumatically operating bond-ejecting devices discharging into the tower at various points, means for intermittently operating said devices, and means for supplying predetermined quantities of bond to said devices.

2. A tower for making built-up composite masses of subdivided solid material and'a binder comprising means for intermittently projecting showers of solid material therein and. means for pneumatically projecting measured quantities of finely divided binding material into opposite sides of saidtower in the intervals between the solid-material showers.

3. A tower for making built-up composite masses of subdivided solid material and a binder, comprising means for intermittently projecting showers of solid material therein and means for pneumatically projecting finely divided binding material 'into the said towerin the intervals between the successive deposits of solid material.

4. A bond-distributing device for micabuilding. towers and the like comprising mica distributing means, a bond-receiving hopper, an, ejector for forcing bond from the said hopper, and means for depositing predetermined amounts of bond'in the said building towers and the like comprising a bond-receivin hopper, a pneumatic e ector for forcing t e bond from the sald hopper and means for depositing predetermined amounts of bond in the said hopper at regular intervals.

6. A bond-distributing device for micabuilding towers and the like comprising a bond-receiving hopper, a pneumatic ejector for forcing the bond from the said hopper and means for depositing predetermined amounts of bond in the said hopper at regular intervals and for actuating the said ejector at intermediate intervals.

7. A bond-distributing device for micabuilding towers and the like comprismg a supply hopper for containinga supply of bond, a bond receiving hopper, a pneumatic ejector for forcing the bond from the said hopper and a reciprocatingconveyer adapted to transfer predetermined amount -of bond from the said supply hopper at regular intervals.

8. ,A bond-distributing device for mica. 7 building towers andthe like comprising a supply hopper for containing a supply of pulverulent bond, the said hopper being pro- 130.

vided with stirring means, a U-shaped receiv ng hopper, one arm of which communicates with the interior ofthe tower, a

pneumatic ejector for forcing the bond fromthe said receiving hopper through the said arm and into the tower, a reciprocating conveyer adapted to receive a predetermined amount of bond from the said supply hopper and to deposit such bond 'in the otherarm of the said U-shaped hopper, and means for 10 reciprocating the said conveyer and for actuating the said ejector in timed relation to the movements of the said conveyer.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this twenty-fifth day 15 of Ju'ile 1915. A

LOUIS T. FREDERICK. 

